Did you know there’s a special swimsuit detergent that neutralizes the harmful effects of chlorine? What the heck is chlorine anyway, and why do we put it in pools?
Benefits of Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with the symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The reason we put it in pools is that Chlorine kills bacteria. In pools, chlorine acts as a sanitizer, an algaecide and an oxidizer of contaminants. It kills microorganisms that can cause health-related problems, such as gastroenteritis, Legionnaires disease, ear infections and athlete’s foot among others.
Harmful Effects of Chlorine on Swimsuits
The disinfecting properties of chlorine, however, come at a price: Chlorine dries out hair and skin and causes swimsuits to rapidly deteriorate. This is why you should always rinse off your body, your hair, and your suit after you go in the pool. If you take an aqua class and use the pool frequently, you may have several suits and you may be tempted to just hang one up to dry straight from the pool without rinsing it. This practice soon results in fabric that fades and elastic that breaks down.
How to Protect Swimsuits from Chlorine
There are steps you can take to make your swimsuit last longer. First, pick a suit that has high spandex content, as spandex tends to hold up best to Chlorine. Some brands of suits even say in the label that they are specially treated to resist chlorine damage. They cost more, but last longer. Next, always rinse out or wash your suit as soon as you can after getting out of the pool. Then wash it in the laundry. Always let it dry by hanging it up—don’t put it in the dryer. If you add a few tablespoons of vinegar to your wash, it will neutralize any chlorine still in the fabric. You can even buy special swimsuit detergent made to counter pool chlorine. A small bottle of laundry detergent for swimsuits lasts a long time. One easy way to make sure your swimsuit is protected from the harmful effects of chlorine is to carry a small spray bottle with the solution in it to the pool. You can then spray it on to neutralize the chlorine immediately. You can also spray the solution on your swim goggles or swim cap if you use those.